Filling and charging device



A. M. wlcKwlRm-JR FILLING AND CHARGING DEVICE Filed Feb, 6, 1950INVENTOR, r M. Wckwxe Jr.

HIS ATTORNEYS Sept. 6, 1932.

Patented Sept. 6, 1932 PATE oFFIcE .ARTHUR M. WICKWIRE, JR., OF NUTLEY,NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF `'IO Y HENRY J. LUCKE, OF NEW YORK, N.Y.

FILLING AND CHARGING DEVICE Application leid February 6, 1936. SerialNo. 426,204.

My invention relates to improvements in filling or charging devices; andparticularly to a device for supplying combustible Huid to the interiorof cigarette lighters and similar articles so as to keep them inreadiness for constant use.

An object of the invention is to provide charging device in which asupply of combustible fluid can be safely stored; and which is adaptedfor quickly charging a cigarette lighter Without wasting the iuid orrisk of accident.

A further object of the invention is to provide a filling and chargingdevice that comprises relatively few parts and is easy to operate, andso constructed that the combustible fluid can be expelled from it andadmitted to the inside of a cigarette lighter with a minimum of handlingand in the quickest possible manner.

The nature of the invention is set forth in the following descriptionand illustrated in the accompanying drawing which shows one embodimentfor utilizing the invention f in practice; but this disclosure is ofcourse intended by way of example only, and I reserve the right to makechanges in shape, size, arrangement of parts, and other details withoutgoing beyond the principle of the invention or exceeding the scope ofthe appended claims.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a filling andcharging device according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail view showing how the cigarette lighter is charged andfilled; and

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 ofFig. 1.

The same numerals identify the same parts throughout.

The numeral 1 indicates a vessel or reservoir having the form of adecanter or any other shape with a wide bottom to enable it to be placedupon a suitable supporting surface, in stable position, without risk ofbeing easily upset. This reservoir kmay have a threaded opening to beclosed by a screw plug 2, so that the contents may be replenished. Onthe inside is a vertical cylinder 3, which is closed at its inner endand may rest on the bottom of the vessel 1. The opposite end projectsfrom the top of the vessel to a slight extent and is threaded on theexterior of the vessel, so that it can be closed by a screwthreadedperforated cap 4. The mouth of the vessel has'an inward extending rim oru or more upper openings, these openings be- .5

ing indicated at 6. Within the cylinder is a piston 7 which is normallydisposed between the upper and lower openings 6, and has a hollow stem 8which is'enveloped by a thicker hollow stem 9. Both the stems 8 and 9pass 70 through the cap or closure 4 and project above the top oi' thevessel 1; and the stem 9 is somewhat shorter than the stern 8, and atits upper end is expanded to form a bowl 10, just below the upperextremity of the 75 stem 8.

The outer stem 9 terminates at its lower end at the top face of thepiston 7 and is aiiixed thereto, while the stem 8 passes through thepiston 7. or more openings 11, which effects communication between thespace inside thestem or conduit 9 andaround the stem 8 with the interiorof the cylinder 3. On the stem 9 within the cylinder and below the cap 4is a fixed 85' collar 13 and inside the cylinder 3 between the collar 13and piston 7 is a iixed'collar 14 having an opening through which vthestem 9 can pass. A coiled spring 12 encircles stem 9 with its endsabutting the collars 13 and 14. 90

This spring holds the piston 7 in partly raised position so that it willalways be between-the upper and lower openings 6.

T o be iilled by this charging device the cigarette llighter which isshownV at 15, 95

Fig` 2, is opened at the-bottom by removing the plug screw whichnormally closes the threaded filling opening 16. The in-V side of thecigarette lighter has a wick of absorbent material 17, one end ofwhichlOO Within the reservoir 1 1s w' Near the piston the stem 9 has one30 to the inside of the cigarette lighter. The

' cigarette lighter is then forced downward deressinoi the aisto'n 7. YAs the iston 7 asses b downwardly toward and past the lower opening 6gasoline is forced up tlirou'gh'the stein 8 acting as a discharge nozzleto saturate the wick 17. When too much fluid is expelled from the stem 8it flows back through the hole 16 into the returning meanscomprisingtlie bowl l0, the stem 9 and holes ll into the cylinder 3 andthrough the holes 6 into the flask l. After the cigarette lighter isremoved the hole 16 is closed by screwingin the plug for this hole andthe expansion of the spring l2 again raises the piston Z to startingposition.A of the cylinder 3 is always kept The lower end full ofgasoline vlo tlow through the lower openings 6, as soon as tne pressureon the bowl lO is removed so that'tlie piston 7 can be raisedv again.

The device is thus very simple in construction and easy to operate. Itis certain in action andv involves no risk either of mishap nor wasteofthe fluid, because any excess fluid that is forced out of stein 8 canbe intercepted and returned by the bowl i0 and stein 9, to thereservoirY l.Y f

Whereas, l have described my invention by reference to specic formsthereof, itwill .be

understood that many changes and modilications may be made with-outdeparting fron l the spirit of the invention.

I claim l. A filling device comprising a reservoir,

a cylinder within the reservoir projecting from the top thereof andbeing closed at its bottom, said cylinder having openings spaced atdifferent distances from said bottom, a piston in the cylinder andnormally between saidV openings, a hollow stein connected'to the pistonand having openings therethrough adjacent to the piston, said stemprojecting to the outside of the reservoir, a hollow stem within thelirst stern passing through the piston and prcjectngfrom the reservoirbeyondV the end of the first stem, the outer end of the tirsl stem beingexpanded to form af bowl surrounding the inner stem, so that pressure onthe outer stein causes a portionlof the contents ot the reservoir to beexpelled through the inner stem, any excess being caught by the bowl andreturned through the outer stem to the inside of the reservoi 2. Acharging device comprising a reservoir, a cylinder within thereservoirand projecting through the top, the inner end o'f'saiclcylinder being closed, a perforated closure for the outer end of saidcylinder, said cylinder'having one or more upper and lower openthe outerstem and stem having openings adjacent the piston, the

outer extremity of saidstem being expanded to form a bowl, a collar onthe inside of the cylinder, a collar on the stem inside of the cylinder,aspring encircling the'outer stein vbetweensaid collars, said springacting normallyrto keep the piston between the upperV and'lo'weryopenings in the cylinder, and an inner stem secured to the piston andopening therethrough, the inner stem passing through protruding 'beyondthe bowl thereof.

3. A filling device, comprising awreservoir, a cylinder, apistondisposed'within said cyl inder and cooperating therewith as a-puinp,-

a pipe member connected to the piston and communicating' with theinterior of said cylin der below said piston, and projecting from thevcylinder to serve asa discharge nozzle,"a secondpipe member surroundingsaid first nainedpipe member and'connected to said piston, said secondnamed pipe member being provided with an opening communicating with theinteri'orof said .cylinder above said piston, said cylinder being'provided with perforatio-ns disposed in two planes and communicatingwithV the ii'iterior of said reservoir,

one plane being located above the normal position of said pistonwithinsaidcylinder andV the other plane being located below the'normalposition of said piston within said cylinder, and resilient meanstending to normally position said i 4. filling` device, comprising areservoir, a cylinder, a piston vdisposed within said cylinder andcooperating therewith as a pump'7 a pipe memberl connected to the pistonandl communica-ting with the interior of said cyl-y inder below saidpiston, and projecting from the .cylinder to serve |as a dischargenozzle, a second pipe member surrounding said first named pipeinemberandconnected to said piston, said second named pipemeinber being providedwith an opening communicating Vwith the interior of said cylinder abovesaid piston, said cylinder being provided with pertorations' disposed intwo planes and communicating with the interior' of said reservoir, one.plane being located abovek the normal position of saidy piston'witlii'n'said"cylinder and the other plane being located below thenormalposition of said piston within saidcylin'der,

and a spring having its `one end fi'izedly positioned relative 'to saidcylinder tending to normally position said two'rplanes. 4 y

In testimony whereof I :have signed this specification this'23rd dayr ofJanuary, 1930.

ARTHUR M; iWioKwii-RE, JR. i

pistonbetween said two planes.`

piston between ysaid i

